ALL-NEW MET ‘E’

Rapido Trains UK is to add one of Britain’s most famous locomotives to its range – Metropolitan Railway 0-4-4T No. 1. Models are to be priced at £179.95 for DCC-ready variants, with DCC sound-fitted models priced at £279.95. Models are reportedly at the engineering prototype stage of development, with production models expected to arrive early-2024.

Visitors to the London Festival of Railway Modelling on March 18/19 saw the first engineering prototype being put through its paces.

Rapido Trains UK commented: "Launched to coincide with the 160th anniversary of the start of railway services on the Metropolitan Railway, ‘Met 1’ brings a model from the Tube’s history back to life for many to enjoy." The following liveries are promised:

• 909001: No. L44, London Transport livery

• 909002: No. L48, London Transport livery

• 909003: No. 1, 1999-2009 preserved livery

• 909004: No. 1, 2013-present preserved livery

Models are promised with fine detail, a smooth and powerful mechanism, flickering firebox, Next18 decoder socket and factoryfitted sound speaker. Sound-fitted versions are also available. All ‘Met 1’ models are available to order now and the order book closes on July 3, 2023.

Sales & Marketing Manager Richard Foster said, “As No. 1 was essentially a one-off, it has some unique features and detail differences. Therefore, we’ve just produced No. 1, which has become a bit of an icon. We have discovered that classmate No. L48 (formerly Metropolitan No. 81) was close enough in detail to be able to offer that too.”

Ellen Sankey, Brand Licensing Manager at Transport for London said: “The Tube is a true London icon, connecting people across the capital and transporting tourists and commuters across the city. This new model of ‘Met 1’ brings a model from the Tube’s history back to life for enthusiasts and collectors to enjoy.”

No. 1 is being offered in two preservation-era liveries: the livery is carried between 1999 and 2009 and the take on the 1920s Metropolitan livery that it has carried since 2013. Rapido also plans to offer two London Transport liveries, including ‘Met 1’ as No. L44. All models have been licensed from Transport for London.